Resilient Lions ride patchwork secondary to bounce-back win, sitting down NFC-leading Buccaneers in primetime
Detroit — The defining characteristic of these Detroit Lions continues to be their resilience.
Following a tough loss in Kanas City that featured multiple unforced errors, needing to weather numerous injuries in the secondary, and missing star safety Brian Branch due to a one-game suspension, the Lions led from start to finish on Monday at Ford Field, toppling the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 24-9.
The Buccaneers (5-2) came into the contest with the NFC’s best record, but struggled to figure out Detroit’s patchwork defensive backfield, amassing just 58 yards and three points by the half.
However, despite driving for a touchdown on the game’s opening possession and taking a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, the Lions (5-2) took their sweet time putting the visitors away, squandering several opportunties. They coughed up two turnovers in field-goal range, turned it over on downs in the red zone and missed a field goal in the first half.
Things briefly got dicey after halftime when Tampa Bay drove for touchdown, slicing Detroit’s lead to four, but the Lions answered with a touchdown, while the defense continued to fluster the Buccaneers through the final whistle.
Game ball
While we could justify splitting a game ball between the entire defense, it has to go to running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who racked up more than 200 yards from scrimmage and scored twice on the ground.
Scoring summary
First quarter
● 11:59 — Detroit delivered two explosive plays and picked up a first down via a third-down penalty en route to a touchdown on the game’s opening series. Gibbs got things started, making a pair of tacklers miss on a swing pass for a 30-yard gain down the right sideline. Then, following the illegal contact penalty against the Buccaneers, quarterback Jared Goff found Amon-Ra St. Brown on a crossing pattern from the right slot for a 27-yard touchdown to give the Lions an early edge. LIONS 7, BUCCANEERS 0
Second quarter
● 5:51 — Gifted another first down on a third down via an illegal contact penalty, Gibbs fired through a hole up the gut, between blocks from Penei Sewell and Tate Ratledge, outrunning safety Antoine Winfield Jr. to the sideline for a career-long 78-yard touchdown run. LIONS 14, BUCCANEERS 0
● 0:00 — Taking advantage of a late interception by Goff, Baker Mayfield completed two quick throws for 22 yards, setting up a 53-yard field goal for Chase McLaughlin to get on the board heading into the break. LIONS 14, BUCCANEERS 3
Third quarter
● 8:49 — And we have a ball game. After amassing just 58 yards in the first half, the Bucacaneers drove 72 yards in 11 plays to open the third quarter. After extending the drive with a fourth-down conversion, Mayfield connected with rookie Tez Johnson on a short throw and the speedy receiver did the rest, weaving through the defense and bouncing off would-be tacklers for a 22-yard score. A two-point conversion attempt fell incomplete after cornerback Nick Whiteside broke up the throw. LIONS 14, BUCCANEERS 9
● 4:39 — Detroit answered with a much-needed counterpunch, driving 73 yards in seven plays for a responding score. Gibbs was the driving force on the possession, racking up 56 yards from scrimmage, including a 28-yard pickup on a swing pass, followed by a 5-yard touchdown run where he spun free of a wall of bodies at the line of scrimmage before crossing the goal line. LIONS 21, BUCCANEERS 9
Fourth quarter
● 10:17 — Taking possession after a turnover on downs, the Lions didn’t gain a yard, but were still able to come away with points thanks to a 58-yard Jake Bates field goal. LIONS 24, BUCCANEERS 9
Turnovers
● Holding on to the ball into the pocket too long on a third-down snap in the opening quarter, Goff had the ball knocked free from his grasp by edge rusher Yaya Diaby. The fumble was recovered by Elijah Roberts, giving Tampa Bay possession at their own 40-yard line.
● Late in the first half, on the first play of a Tampa Bay drive, Amik Robertson punched the ball out from the Sterling Shepard’s hands with Aidan Hutchinson securing the fumble.
● Following a missed field goal late in the second quarter, nickel corner Arthur Maulet jumped a pass intended for Tampa Bay tight end Cade Otton. Originally ruled a simultaneous catch, which goes to the offense, a replay review reversed the call, giving Maulet the interception.
● On Detroit’s ensuing possession to close out the first half, Goff came up short on a corner pattern to St. Brown, throwing the ball directly to Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean.
Key stats
● Goff wasn’t as crisp as he’s been most of the season, but the quarterback still completed 20-of-29 for 241 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also lost a fumble.
● Gibbs was electric, rushing for 136 yards and two touchdowns with 17 carries, while chipping in another 82 yards on three receptions.
● St. Brown was quiet in the second half after a hot start, but he still paced the team with six grabs for 86 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets.
● Erick Hallett and Jack Campbell led the team with eight tackles. Hallett had six solo stops, while Campbell scored two tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including a sack.
Tyrus Wheat had 1.5 sacks and Derrick Barnes added another.
● Detroit had 12 pass defenses, led by Nick Whiteside’s three.
Notable
● Alim McNeill got the start, marking his first appearance since tearing his ACL on Dec. 15, 2024.
● Hallett started at safety. A sixth-round pick in 2023, it was the first defensive snaps of his career.
● Bates missed a 54-yard field goal attempt wide left with just under two minutes remaining in the second quarter.
● Following a Buccaneers’ fourth-down conversion in the fourth quarter, the Lions challenged the ruling on the field. The official returned to announce Otton had completed the process of the catch, but a minute later came back and announced the tight end was short of the marker, awarding the Lions the ball.
Injuries
● Running back Craig Reynolds exited in the first half with a hamstring injury.
● Linebacker Zach Cunningham suffered another hamstring injury in the second half.
● Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin left the field twice, first to get his shoulder inspected, then with cramping.
Inactives
Before the game, the Lions listed cornerback Terrion Arnold, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson, safety Kerby Joseph, defensive back Avonte Maddox, safety Jammie Robinson, running back Sione Vaki and defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo as inactive.
Arnold, Joseph, Maddox and Vaki had been ruled out due to injury on Saturday. The other three were healthy scratches.
Next game
The Lions have a bye next week. They’ll return to action on Nov. 2, at home, against Minnesota.
Legion of Whom, baby
Whiteside had a great game too! Notable the defense kept Tampa, now a 5-2 team to only 9 points. Go Lions!